An equitable approach to enhancing the privacy of consumer information on My Health Record in Australia

Australia's national electronic health record (EHR), My Health Record (MHR), raises concerns about information privacy and the presumption of consent to participation. In contrast to the opt-out framework for participation, consumers must opt-in to obtain additional privacy features to protect their health information on MHR. We review ethical considerations relating to opt-in and opt-out frameworks in the context of EHRs, discussing potential reasons why consent for additional safeguards is not currently presumed. Exploring the implications of recent amendments to strengthen consumer privacy, we present recommendations to promote equity in health information security for all Australians using MHR.

Automated summary

Australia's national electronic health record, My Health Record, has raised concerns about information privacy and consent to participation. Unlike the opt-out framework, consumers have to opt-in to protect the privacy of their health information. We review ethical considerations surrounding the opt-in and opt-out frameworks, discussing the reasons for not presuming consent for additional safeguards. We propose recommendations to ensure equity in health information security for all Australians using My Health Record.